Water Softener Help

[check4twenty]

Hello,

This is my first post so go easy on me. I have a Hague Watermax water softener, model 63BEQ. Occasionally, after a regeneration, I can continue to hear water flowing out of the drain line. I assume it is from the backwash cycle and maybe a valve has not closed all the way. It is not a lot of water, just a slow trickle. I can force a regen and usually it stops, but may return after a future regen. Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[joe_padavano]

While my softener isn't that model, I had a similar problem after it had been in service for a number of years. The valve had worn and was sticking in the body. I had to rebuild the valve, which fixed the problem.

 

[Bill Bowman]

We have a lot of iron in our well water. We installed a cartridge style filter BEFORE the softener, (refill $8.00, 5 minutes to change out). Once a month, the filter looks like a rusty pipe, but at least the rusty water is not causing much of a problem with the valve mechanism in the softener. Not sure if that's your problem, but worth considering?

 

[dcg9381]

As these things age, the internal mechanism that operates the changing water flow tends to wear - o-rings, seals, etc. It's very likely that there is a "seal kit" and a rebuild procedure that you need to go through with that thing that will solve this problem. I got about 7 years out of a Clack softener (one of the better ones) before having to rebuild.

 

[check4twenty]

As these things age, the internal mechanism that operates the changing water flow tends to wear - o-rings, seals, etc. It's very likely that there is a "seal kit" and a rebuild procedure that you need to go through with that thing that will solve this problem. I got about 7 years out of a Clack softener (one of the better ones) before having to rebuild.

Sounds like the right path. Thanks.

 

[check4twenty]

We have a lot of iron in our well water. We installed a cartridge style filter BEFORE the softener, (refill $8.00, 5 minutes to change out). Once a month, the filter looks like a rusty pipe, but at least the rusty water is not causing much of a problem with the valve mechanism in the softener. Not sure if that's your problem, but worth considering?

Very little iron in our water in south central Texas. But LOTS of lime from the limestone in the Edwards Aquifer and surface water impoundment. Which is why a water softener is pretty much a must around here. But an in-line filter would probably be good anyway. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[check4twenty]

While my softener isn't that model, I had a similar problem after it had been in service for a number of years. The valve had worn and was sticking in the body. I had to rebuild the valve, which fixed the problem.

Yep, I figured that would be the case. Thanks.

 

[dcg9381]

Very little iron in our water in south central Texas. But LOTS of lime from the limestone in the Edwards Aquifer and surface water impoundment. Which is why a water softener is pretty much a must around here. But an in-line filter would probably be good anyway. Thanks for the suggestion.

Central Texas here. I've done a few well water systems. Current residence I got tired of dealing with all the dissolved solids and I switched to 100% rain-catchment. Testing the rain water versus Texas well water - the difference is substantial.

Do include at least one sediment filter in advance of the water softener. Most wells have this, but the post above makes me think maybe not. The hardness of the water will wear these things, but it's worse if you're passing sediment.

And remember, the media in these units only lasts so long. Eventually they need both valve rebuilds and media replacement. Joys of hard-water well operation.